As Rosenthal pointed out earlier today, the NFL currently is investigating whether two more teams violated the offseason workout rules spelled out in the labor agreement.
Already, the league has punished four teams by taking away multiple sessions of their Organized Teams Activities.
It’s no surprise that an increasing number of league insiders believe that the uptick in OTA violations arises directly from the increase in ticked off players. As one league source explains it, players have complained more than ever this year regarding the intensity of offseason workouts. It’s causing friction, we’re told, between players and assistant coaches -- particularly those assistant coaches who were players within the past decade.
So where’s it all heading? As we’ve heard it time and again, the union has for years looked the other way regarding most offseason workout violations because the work done from April to June results in a less intense training-camp experience.
This year, look for that to change. And look for more players to complain.
The difference? Nothing in the CBA prevents the coaches from subjecting players during training camp to high-intensity, full-padded, two-a-day practices under the supervision of Denzel Washington.